Donor Spotlight: Roger Anderson

May 20, 2024

"I donate to Kamp for Kids because every dollar counts. And when I see this good thing happening I feel like the money I am giving is really supporting something important. It feels good to know that you are part of something important."

Meet Roger Anderson, a retired long-time BHN employee and financial supporter of Kamp for Kids in Westfield. As a former manager of Kamp for Kids, Roger is well aware of the benefits and struggles of the program at a level that few others get to experience. Year after year, Roger generously shares his financial resources with BHN’s Kamp for Kids.


When asked why he donates, Roger explained how Kamp benefits all the children in attendance. "Kamp is one of the programs with the widest impact of any social service program and provides a place for children with disabilities to be supervised in the summer, have fun, learn skills, have social experiences; and offers that same opportunity to kids without disabilities. Stirring them together, they learn a tremendous amount from each other. Kids with disabilities learn social skills and develop confidence. Kids with typical abilities come to understand how different and diverse people are and not to be intimidated by those differences. They all learn to make friends across differences. And that makes a huge impact on kids who grow up to be adults.”

Roger points out that Kamp has a significant impact not only on the children but also on their parents. “Finding appropriate summer care is hard enough for parents of typically developing kids and next to impossible for parents of children with disabilities. And because Kamp provides transportation, it is that much easier for parents to work through the summer.”


Roger also sees a ripple effect in the broader human services workforce as well. “Through exposure to Kamp and BHN, summer staff and college interns come to learn that there are different jobs in the human services field and that they can work in human services no matter what their field of interest is.” He notes that many senior managers in local human services and state social service agencies worked at Kamp in college. “They were in school for business (for example); then they went to Kamp, and now they are leading a local social service organization."


Roger also reminds us that Kamp for Kids holds significant historical value. Judy Hoyt founded the program because she wanted her child with disabilities to go to camp with his siblings. Judy didn’t stop there; she was also a driving force in passing the MA 766 special education law. This law required public schools to provide free and appropriate education in the least restrictive environment for all eligible children with disabilities. Subsequent federal special education reform was modeled on MA 766. As Roger shared, "Judy was behind all of that," and Kamp is where it all began.


And although the value and importance of Kamp is clear, funding it is not as simple. The program revenue is a patchwork of state subsidies (for those campers who qualify), small foundation grants, participant registration fees, and individual donor contributions. Given the commitment to offer scholarships to families in need who can’t afford the program, Roger emphasizes that every dollar is crucial.


In short, Roger knows from the inside that Kamp has “a whole lot of impact" and says, “I give money because Kamp is an uplifting experience for the children and anyone connected to it, and it is good to know that you are a part of something so important.”


Thank you, Roger, for your continued support and financial stewardship of Kamp for Kids. and for sharing your story with us! 


You Can Help Us Change Lives! Your donation of any amount will help BHN provide much needed services. Give Now

SHARE

Admin Professionals Day

Celebrating Administrative Professionals Day: Staff Reflections

April 23, 2025
Administrative Professionals are the backbone of BHN. They keep our programs running smoothly, support our clients, and create a positive environment for everyone they interact with. To honor the incredible work they do, we are proud to highlight the voices of several of our administrative professionals as they share insights, and what inspires them.

Kamp for Kids Golf FUN-Raiser Celebrates 50 Years of Summer Fun for All Abilities

April 14, 2025
On April 10th Kamp for Kids celebrated a major milestone, 50 years of inclusive summer fun, with an evening of connection and community at our Golf FUN-raiser, held at Max’s Swing Lounge in Springfield. The event offered guests a chance to unwind with a virtual driving range and mini golf, food, fun and raffle prizes - all in support of a meaningful cause.

New Grant Funding for Gun Violence Prevention

April 8, 2025
Behavioral Health Network is honored to be one of ten organizations awarded funding through Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell's Public Health Models for Gun Violence Prevention Grant Program. With this support, BHN will develop and deliver trauma-informed training on the intersection of domestic violence and gun violence, collaborating with a broad network of community-based organizations across Greater Springfield. This initiative is focused on reducing gun violence and fostering community-driven solutions. We’re proud to contribute to this critical work. Learn more in this press release from Mass.gov. 
Show More

Newsletter Sign-Up

Sign-up for our newsletter to receive updates on what's happening at BHN.

Newsletter Sign-Up